In 1999 the Disney parks introduced the world to FastPass. A free service that uses computerized ticket machines to allow visitors the opportunity to avoid standing in line for the most popular attractions throughout the Disneyland Resort. Waiting in long lines has now become a thing of the past for those who know the ins & out of how to use FastPass.

How the FastPass reservation machines work:

The FastPass attraction machines are extremely easy to use. Just look for the FastPass machines at a participating show or attraction and insert your park admission ticket. The FastPass machine will print you a ticket with a one hour time slot in which you can return and experience the attraction without having to wait in the full length of the queue. Once you have your reservation you can use the time to visit other attractions, pose for a picture with Mickey Mouse, or get an autograph from you favorite Disney Princess. When it is time for your FastPass reservation make your way back to the attraction, hand your pass to the cast member at the entrance and enjoy the ride without any lengthy line.

There are a few restrictions involved with Disney FastPass though. Each guest may hold only one FastPass for one attraction every two hours or after the one-hour window expires; whichever comes first.

Tips & Secrets:

• Not all of the machines within the parks are connected to the same reservation system. Roger Rabbit's Cartoon Spin (Disneyland) and Grizzly River Run (California Adventure) are each on a totally separate computer reservation system. The machines at these attractions are not able to detect if you currently have a reservation at another attraction, which makes it possible to hold a second FastPass reservation at these attractions while still having another reservation elsewhere.

• The bottom of your Disney FastPass reservation ticket will tell you what time you can acquire another FastPass. This is usually the same time as the beginning of your one hour return slot, which means that you can make another FastPass reservation before you've even used your first FastPass. The best strategy to maximize the number of attractions you visit in a day is to always get another FastPass ticket A.S.A.P.

• One little known and very unofficial FastPass secret is that the passes don't really expire after the ending time listed on them - hang onto them and use them a few hours later. This way you aren't forced to rush back and forth across the park to ride at certain times. Cast Members have been instructed to honor the late arrivals since they don't really know the circumstances which have made that guest late.

• AAA offers vacation packages that include an "Enhanced FastPass" ?. This version of FastPass doesn't have restrictions and users can collect one FastPass after another without time or quantity restrictions. The AAA packages including this "Enhanced FastPass" ? are not cheap, but if you are willing to pay you'll find the benefits are well worth it.